U.S. Government On Brink Of Shutdown

September 30, 2025 5:04 am

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer says Republicans are trying to “bully” Democrats by refusing to negotiate as a standoff over health care and spending threatens to trigger the first U.S. government shutdown in almost seven years. Schumer says President Donald Trump and fellow Republicans have until midnight Tuesday “to get serious.” Trump is threatening retribution, saying that a shutdown could include “cutting vast numbers of people out, cutting things that they like, cutting programs that they like.” The government will shut down at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday if the Senate does not pass a House measure that would extend federal funding for seven weeks. Senate Democrats say they won’t vote for it unless Republicans include an extension of expiring health care benefits.